Snow plow and roller



1. w. OURADN IK. SNOW PLOW AND ROLLER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22. 1920.

Patente l Nov. 21

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

:Illllllllll J. W. OURADNIK. SNOW PLOW AND ROLLER. APPLICATION FILEDJUNE 22, 1920.

Patented N 0v. 21,1922;

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. W. OURADNIK. SNOW PLOW AND ROLLER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22. 1920.

Patented Nov. 21, 1922.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

Patented Nov. El, @223.

JOSEPH W. OURADNIK, OF KEWAUNEE, WISCONSIN.

SNOX/V PLOW AND ROLLER.

Application filed June 22, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosEPH WV. OURADNIK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kewaunee, in the county of Ke'waunee and State of Wisconsin,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Snow Plow andRoller, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to road machines and more particularly to a snowroller and road grader, the primary object being to provide a machine ofthis character which may be employed to keep the roads in good conditionat all times during the year.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a machine for rollingthe snow on roads and highways so that it will be firmly packed downwhereby a firm surface will be provided so that trafiic will not beinterrupted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of thischaracter which will operate in the manner similar to an ordinarytractor so that a relatively wide surface may be operated on by themachine while it is in use.

The invention further aims to provide a machine of this character whichwill be provided with power mechanism for moving the machine and whichwill he so construct ed as to permit it to be used while the snow isfalling so that the snow may be packed as it gathers on the ground.

Another object is to provide tractor machine which may be employed as aplow to remove soft snow when desired so that the roads may be clearedwhen the snow softens and begins to melt.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tractor machineadapted to be used as a road grader for keeping the surface of the roadin proper condition.

The invention also contemplates the provision of means which willco-operate with the tractor to improve the condition of the road surfaceso that material forming the covering for the road may be kept free fromruts and unevenness and generally improve the surface of the road.

Other objects of the invention will appear upon consideration of thefollowing. detail description and accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine Serial No. 390,729.

constructed substantially in accordance with my invention,

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken approximately on the line 2-2 ofFig. 1,

Figure 3 1s a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 ofFig. 2,

F gure et is a rear end elevation,

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section, taken approximately on theline 5-5 of Fig. 3,

Figure 6 is a detail view of a portion of the gearing mechanism,

F gure 7 is a plan view showing a locking device used in connection withthe invention,

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section of the same,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary plan view showmg a plow adapted for attachmentto the machine and Figure 10 is a perspective view of a brace memberadapted to be used with the plow.

Referrlng to the drawings by numerals, the sub-structure of the machineis adapted to support a housing within which the main mechanism isarranged as generally illusrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of thedrawings. Thesub-structure comprises longitudinal frame bars 1 preferably I-beamshaving their forward ends extended upwardly at an angle as indicated at9.. Mounted upon the frame bars 1 are bearings 3 which receive trans-'verse shafts lhaving gear wheels or sprockets 5 mounted thereon. Thesprockets are relatively large in diameter and extend below the lowermarginal edges of the frame bars 1. Carrier chains 6 are trained overthe rearmost sprockets and are engaged by the other sprockets and thechains also engage smaller sprockets 7 journaled in the end portions ofthe angular ends 2 of the frame bars. Shafts 8 support the sprockets 7so that a portion of the forward end of the chain is extended upwardlyat an angle as shown. Attached to the chains are the transverselyextending plates or cleats 9 which have their edges close together butwhich are separately mounted on the chain so that the tractor thusformed is free to travel when the gears are set in motion. Ordinarycalks are adapted to be mounted in the cleats if desired.

As shown to advantage in Figs. l and5 the tractors consist of twoseparate units ar- .1 Eli.

ranged relatively close together but since they are of the sameconstruction the above description of the mechanism is applicable toboth.

Standards 10 are mounted upon the frame bars 1 and support a mainplatform 11 which also forms the flooring for the body of the tractorwhich supports the driving and operating mechanism. This platform has alarge roomy housing built thereon pro vided with windows arranged in anypreferred manner whereby the operators of the tractor may be protectedfrom the action of the elements during inclement weather.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, a gasoline engine 12 is mounted uponthe platform and it will be obvious that any type of engine or motor maybe employed. A drive shaft 13 from the engine is provided at one endwith a beveled gear 1a in mesh with a beveled gear 15 which drives atransmission shaft 16. The shafts 4: for the tractors are independentlymounted and are adapted to operate at one side inedependently of theshafts at the other side. The real-most shafts a are provided on theirouter extended ends with sprockets 17 over which chains are trained asindicated at 18 and these chains are engaged with sprockets 19 on theextended ends of counter shafts 20 supported in bearings within thehousing. The inner end of each counter shaft 20 is provided with. abeveled gear 21 each of which meshes with a beveled gear 22 on the endof one of a pair of auxiliary shafts 23. Each auxiliary shaft is alsoprovided at its opposite end with a small beveled pinion 2 1 and alarger beveled pinion 25. Slida'bly mounted driving gears are arrangedon the trans mission shaft 16 and these include a set of gears for eachpair of gears 24 and 25, the larger beveled gear 26 being adapted tomesh with the larger beveled pinion 25 while the smaller drive pinion 27is adapted to mesh with the smaller beveled pinion. 24. The two beveledgears 26 and 27 are connected together in any suitable manner as by asleeve 28 and this sleeve is slidable on the shaft 16 with the gears 26and 27 so that when the gear 26 moves out. of engagement with the pinion25, the gears 27 will move into engagement with, the pinion 2 1. Thiswill permit the speed of the tractor shaft to be changed when desiredand it will be noted that the arrangement will permit the shafts to beoperated in opposite directions for reversing one of the tractors whenit is desired to turn quickly. These sleeves 28 are adapted to beoperated by suitable levers 29 pivoted as indicated at 30 and reachingto a point within convenient reach of the op erator of the machine.

With the above mechanism it will be readily appreciated that the snow onthe surface of the roadway may be quickly rolled and packed so that afirm surface will be provided to assist traffic. The machine may beoperated while the snow is falling so that it is firmly packed as itgathers on the ground.

The mechanism for using the device as a road grader comprises a scraperblade 31 having a reinforced edge piece 32. This scraper blade isattached to upright supports 33 which are extended through openings inthe ends of movable beams 34. These beams are extended longitudinallyinto the housing and are movable through casings attached to theplatform so that longitudinal adjustment of the beams will be permittedwhereby the angular positions of the scraper blademay be changed. Thisis accomplished by providing the beams 23% with rack bars 35 adapted tobe engaged by rack pinions 3t and 37. A transverse shaft 38 is providedwith a beveled gear 39 in mesh with a beveled gear 40 on a hand wheelshaft 41 which is provided with a hand wheel 42 whereby the shaft may bemanually rotated. A gear as on one end of the shaft 38 meshes with anintermediate gear 44. on an intermediate shaft and the gear a l mesheswith the rack gear 36 the latter being mounted on a shaft 4-6. This willcause the right hand beam 34 to move in either direction according tothe turning movement of the wheel 42. The opposite end of the shaft 38is provided with a gear 4:8 which meshes with the rack pinion 37, thelatter being on a shaft 49. In this instance no intermediate gear isprovided so that the direction of rotation of the gear 37 will beexactly opposite to that of the gear 36 when the hand wheel is turned inone direction. This will cause the left hand beam 34 to move inwardlywhen the right hand beam 3st moves outwardly. It will be obvioustherefore, that by turning the hand wheel 12 the angular position of thescraper blade 31 may be quickly changed.

It is also desirable to have the scraper blade tilted longitudinally atcertain times and this is accomplished by moving the supportingstandards 33. Each standard 33 is slidably mounted in one end of thecorresponding beam 3 and has a rack bar extending longitudinally on itsinner side. This rack bar is engaged by a rack gear 51 on a shaft 52supported in suitable bearings and extending into the housing where itsinner end is provided with a hand wheel 53. The gear 51 for eachsupporting member 33 maintains its relative position with respect to therack bar by virtue of its engagement therewith but the shaft is keyed tothe gear in a manner that will permit longitudinal movement of the gearon the shaft so that the mechanism provided for lifting either end ofthe scraper blade will not interfere with the mechanism for providingthe angular adjustment of the blade. It will be obvious that by turningeither of the hand wheels 53, either end of the scraper blade may beraised or lowered.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I have illustrated a mech anism which may be utilizedto lock the beams 34 if the lock provided by the engaging gears is notsufficient. This lock comprises a foot pedal tilted as indicated at 56on a pivot and connected to a double pawl 57. The latter consists ofarock shaft 58 having an extension 59 connected as indicated at 60 tothe foot pedal while the opposite ends of the shaft have the lockingpawls 61 adapted to engage the rack bars 35 on the beams so that whenthe beams are set in the desired position the same may be locked.Obviously any other suitable locking means may be provided for thispurpose.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a plow attachment which may be employed ifdesired. The sides of the plow are formed of plates or blades 65hingedly connected as indicated at 66, this hinge forming the apex orpoint of the plow when it is in use. A brace bar 67 has its ends engagedwith the inner surfaces of the plow plates 65 and is held in position byangular connecting cleats 68 adapted to be removed when the plow is tobe disconnected so that the plates 65 may be folded on the hingeconnection 66 to be packed in a relatively small space when the plow isnot in use. A central brace member 69 is provided which has a connectingbar 70 adapted to be removably connected to the upright members 33. Acentral brace bar 71 extends forwardly from the bar 70 and terminates ina finger 72 adapted to engage the hinge connection 66 so as to provide afirm brace for the point of the plow. It will be understood that thedetails of this mechanism for connecting the plow may be variedaccording to the scope of the appended claims.

It will be noted by referring to Fig. 1 that a coupling link 74: isattached to the rear of the platform. This is forthe purpose ofproviding a coupling for connectingany trailer to the machine and it ispointed out that the invention contemplates the provision of a heavycylindrical roller weighted down in the manner common to devices of thischaracter so that the roller will assist the tractor in providing a firmsurface for the roadway.

From the above it will be observed that the mechanism includes a verypractical and efiicient all year road machine and I desire it to beunderstood that I do not limit myself to the exact details shown anddescribed but prefer to make such changes in the details of constructionas fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. In a road machine, the combination of a framestructure, a platform mounted on the frame structure, adjustablesupporting beams mounted on the platform, means to manually move thesupporting beams independently of each other and means to support thescraper blade from the supporting beams.

2. In a road machine, the combination of a frame structure, a platformmounted on the frame structure, forwardly extending beams carried by theplatform and slidably mounted to move forwardly and rearwardlyindependently of each other, independent operating means for eachsupporting beam adapted to be manually operated, vertical supportingelements carried by the forward ends of the said beams, a scraper bladeattached to the said vertical supports and means to independently adjustthe vertical supports to raise and lower either end of the said scraperblade.

3. In a road machine, the combination of a frame structure, a platformsupported on the frame structure, supporting beams extended forwardlyfrom the platform and slidably mounted thereon, a rack bar on each beam,and manually operated means to move the said beams in oppositedirections when the said manually operated means is actuated and ascraper blade supported from the said forward ends of the beams.

4.. The combination with a road machine, of a tractor, a platformsupported by the tractor, a scraper blade, means supporting the end ofthe scraper blade to hold the latter edgewise, a rack bar formed on eachsupporting means, and gears engageable with the raclr bars to move thesupporting means vertically whereby the opposite ends of the scraperblade may be raised and lowered.

In testimony whereof, I have afiixed my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOSEPH W. OURADNIK.

Witnesses:

FRANK M. OPIOKA, WILLIAM LAZANSKY.

